In 1947 the Bulletin Of The Atomic Scientists introduced the clock in order to convey the dangers posed by nuclear weapons. It was initially set at seven minutes to midnight.

In 1949 the clock was changed to three minutes to midnight after the Soviet Union tested its first atomic bomb.

In 1953 it was adjusted to two minutes to midnight (the closest it has approached) after the United States and the Soviet Union tested thermonuclear devices within nine months of each other.

In 1960 the clock was changed to seven minutes to midnight in response to perceived greater scientific co-operation and public understanding to the dangers of nuclear weapons.

In 1963 it was set at 12 minutes to midnight after the US and the Soviet Union signed the Partial Test Ban Treaty limiting atmospheric nuclear testing.

In 1968 it was altered to seven minutes to midnight after France and China acquired nuclear weapons.

In 1969 the clock was changed to 10 minutes to midnight after the US Senate ratified the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

In 1972 it was set at 12 minutes to midnight after the US and the Soviet Union signed the first Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (SALT) and the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty.

In 1974 it was moved forwards to nine minutes to midnight after India tested a nuclear device and the second SALT talks stalled.

In 1980 the clock was changed to seven minutes to midnight in response to further deadlock in talks between the US and the Soviet Union, terrorism and an increase in nationalist action.

In 1981 it was adjusted to four minutes to midnight as the arms race escalated and conflicts in Afghanistan, South Africa and Poland added to global tension.

In 1984 the clock was set at three minutes to midnight in response to further arms race escalation under US president Ronald Reagan.

In 1988 it was changed to six minutes to midnight after the US and the Soviet Union signed a treaty to eliminate intermediate-range nuclear forces.

In 1990 the clock was adjusted to ten minutes to midnight with the fall of the Berlin Wall and the success of anti-communist movements in Eastern Europe.

In 1991 it was changed to 17 minutes to midnight (the furthest away it has been) after the US and the Soviet Union signed the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty.

In 1995 the clock was moved forward to 14 minutes to midnight as global spending continued at Cold War levels amid concerns about the fate of the Soviet nuclear arsenal.

In 1998 it was adjusted to nine minutes to midnight after India and Pakistan tested nuclear weapons and the US and Russia ran into difficulties in further reducing their stockpiles.

In 2002 it was changed to seven minutes to midnight after the US rejected a number of arms control treaties and announced it planned to withdraw from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty.

Today the Bulletin’s scientists moved the clock forward again, to five minutes to midnight, to reflect the twin threats of nuclear proliferation and climate change.

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